Level wind guide attachement for fishing reels

ABSTRACT

A level wind guide attachment for fishing reels adapted to be pivotally secured between the end housings of the fishing reel with an enclosed gear and worm gear in mesh engagement with each other; the worm gear being mounted on a shaft that extends beyond a housing and having a spring loaded friction wheel mounted thereon that is adapted to engage and rotate with one of the flanges of the line receiving spool. Rotating with the gear is an arm having a slot in which a cam follower and swiveled eyelet receiving the fishing line are positioned. The housing is provided with spiral interconnected slots of different diameters, one within the other in which the cam follower is slidably mounted whereby upon the revolving of the arm during the winding action of the fishing line, the latter is placed evenly on the spool.

United States Patent lnventor Oscar Fleischer Miami, Fla.

Appl. No. 47,747

Filed June 19, 1970 Patented Nov. 30, 1971 A Assignee l-Ielen KrohnFleischer, executrix by said Oscar Fleischer Continuation-impart ofapplication Ser. No. 4,216, Jan. 20, 1970. Thk application June 19,1970, Ser. No. 47,747

LEVEL WIND GUIDE ATTACl-IEMENT FOR FISHING REELS Bailey et a1.

Primary Examiner- Billy S. Taylor Anarney-Salvatore G. MilitanaABSTRACT: A level wind guide attachment for fishing reels adapted to bepivotally secured between the end housings of the fishing reel with anenclosed gear and worm gear in mesh engagement with each other; the wormgear being mounted on a shaft that extends beyond a housing and having aspring loaded friction wheel mounted thereon that is adapted to engageand rotate with one of the flanges of the line receiving spool. Rotatingwith the gear is an arm having a slot in which a cam follower andswiveied eyelet receiving the fishing line are positioned. The housingis provided with spiral interconnected slots of different diameters, onewithin the other in which the cam follower is slidably mounted wherebyupon the revolving of the arm during the winding action of the fishingline, the latter is placed evenly on the spool.

PAIENTEDuuv 30 Ian SHEET 1 [IF 2 I I k INVENTOR QSCAR FLEISCHER ATTORNEYPATENTEBN 30 SHEET 2 OF 2 OS QAR FLEISCHER Afromvsr LEVEL WIND GUIDEATTACIIEMENT FOR FISHING REELS This application is acontinuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 4216, filed onJan. 20, I970, for Level Wind Guide Attachment For Fishing Reels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In my copending application there is shownand described a device for level winding fishing line on a fishing reel.It was found, however, that the fishing line was not wound on the reelin a substantially flat plane but instead wound on the reel in a concaveshape. The attachment of the prior application appears to wind more lineon the ends of the spool adjacent the flanges than along the midportionof the spool for each revolution of the level wind attachment. Althoughthis does not seriously impair the proper operation of the fishing reel,the fisherman would prefer having the fishing line wind on the reel in aflat plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to level wind guides forfishing reels and is more particularly directed to an improved levelwind guide which winds the fishing line on a spool in a fiat plane.

The present invention contemplates avoiding the above indicatedobjection to the level wind attachment of my copending application yetretains all of the advantages thereof as set forth in my copendingapplication.

Therefore, it is a principal object of the present invention is toprovide a level wind attachment for fishing reels that lays the fishingline on the reel in a fiat plane as the fishing line is wound on thereel.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a completelyenclosed watertight attachment for fishing reels utilizing a cam plateand a cam follower that permits the level winding of the fishing line onthe reel whereby no water, salt, grime and other foreign matter can getinto the operating mechanism thereof as the line is wound on the reel ina fiat plane.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a level wind guideattachment for fishing reels having a cam plate with not less than twoarcuately extending and interconnected slots thereon of differentdiameters with a cam follower engaging the slots and mounted on acontinuously rotating member that feeds the fishing line in a fiat planeonto the reel as the reel is rotated by the user.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a level wind guideattachment for fishing reels that is not connected directly to the reeloperating mechanism as by gears and the like whereby the attachment isreadily installed on any conventional reel by the ordinary fisherman.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a level windguide for fishing reels that is pivotally mounted on the reel andoperated by frictional engagement with the spool flange thereby beingreadily disengaged when casting and as readily engaged when rotating thespool for winding the fish ing line back onto the spool.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a levelwind attachment guide for fishing reels that is simple to manufacture,readily mounted on a conventional fishing reel and adjustable to fitvarious size fishing reels.

With these and other objects in view, the invention will be bestunderstood from a consideration of the following detailed descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, with the understanding, however, that the inventionis not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of thedrawings but may be changed or modified so long as such changes ormodifications mark no material departure from the salient features ofthe invention as expressed in the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of a fishingreel having a level wind guide attachment constructed in accordance withmy invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the attachment as seen removed from thefishing reel.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross sectional views taken along the lines 44 and 5-5respectively of FIGS. 3 and 2 respectively.

' FIG. 6 is an exploded view thereof.

FIG. 7 is a top plane view of the cam plate.

FIG. 8 is an alternate construction of the cam plate.

FIG. 9 is a further alternate construction of the cam plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings wherein like numerals are used to designate similar partsthroughout the several views, the numeral l0 refers to my attachment forfishing reels which is capable of the winding of the fishing line in alevel and regular manner and consists of a body portion 11 having anopen chamber 12 enclosed by a cam plate 13.

Communicating as at 15 with the chamber 12 is a bore I4 which extendstransversely of the body portion 11 to an edge portion 16 of the bodyportion 11 where there is an axially disposed sleeve 31 mounted thereon.

There is a bore 17 in the central portion of the base member 18 of thebody portion 1] having a cylindrical sleeve portion 19 extending abovethe floor of the base member I8.

Rotatably mounted in the body portion 11 is gear 20 having a threadedbore 21. The gear 20 is provided with an axially disposed sleeve 22 thatextends below the lower surface of the gear 20 with a peripheral slot 23formed between the sleeve 22 and the lower surface of the gear 20 asbest shown by FIG. 5. When the gear 20 is positioned in the chamber I2,the sleeve 19 of the base member I8 is received by the slot 23 of thegear 20 while the sleeve 22 of the gear 20 will extend along the bore 18to a position slightly beyond the lower surface of the base member 18 sothat when a bolt 24 is threaded into the bore 21 of the gear 20, thegear 20 will be secured in the chamber 12 and will rotate freely of thebody member 11.

The gear 20 is provided with a hub portion 25 that is stepped as at 26for receiving an O-ring 27 that is engaged at the inner periphery 28 ofthe cover 13 whose outer periphery is received on a ledge 29 formedabout the chamber 12 with a gasket 30 placed between the cover 13 andledge portion 29 to render the chamber 12 watertight.

Positioned in the bore 14 is a shaft 32 having a worm gear 33 in meshengagement with the gear 20. The shaft 32 that extends beyond the sleeve31 is provided with a pliable friction wheel 34 made of rubber and thelike that rotates in unison with the shaft 32 and is maintained in thebore 14 by a setscrew 60 threaded in a bore 62 and received by aperipheral slot 61 in the shaft 32. A setscrew 35 threaded in a bore 36formed at the base of the friction wheel 34 is received in an elongatedshallow slot 37 formed longitudinally of the shaft 32. A coil spring 38is positioned about the shaft 32 within the sleeve 31 and extendsbetween the friction wheel 34 and the edge portion 16 of the body member11. This structure permits the adjustment of the friction wheel 34 forfishing reels of various sizes as is explained in detail hereinafter. Anadjustable thrust bearing is effected by a pointed screwbolt 63 levelwind guide attachment 10 is thereby capable of being swung from itsoperating position as shown by the solid lines in FIG. 1 to the dottedline position.

In order to maintain the friction wheel 34 in proper frictionalengagement with a flange 45 of the spool 46, a tab 47 is mounted on thebody member I] extending beyond the position of the end casing 42 andterminating in an end portion 77 that lies parallel to the end casing42. A lock bolt 78 that is threadedly mounted in a bore formed in theend casing 42 is received by an arcuate slot 79 extending from the freeend of the tab end portion 77. In order that the friction wheel 34 bearagainst the flange 45 of the spool 46 when the level wind attachment hasswung to its operating position, the slot 79 is provided with an arcuateportion 80 that receives and retains the lock bolt 78. Consequently theline wind attachment 10 will operate properly even though the lock bolt78 is not tightened against the tab end portion 77. An adjusting screw48 which is threaded in a bore 49 engages the end casing 42 to permitthe attachment 10 to swing to the proper position wherein the frictionwheel 34 engages the flange 45 of the spool 46 without binding orslippage therebetween. Also, the friction wheel 34 is capable of slidinglaterally on the shaft 32, a distance as determined by the length of thelongitudinal slot 37 in order to adjust to various sized spools 46.

Mounted to rotate with the gear is a level line winding arm 50 providedwith a rectangular opening 51 that receives the slotted end 52 of thegear hub whereby the arm 50 is made to rotate in unison with the gearwheel 20. The arm 50 is fastened to the gear 20 by a screw 53 that isthreaded into a bore 54 in the hub 25. Extending along the free end ofthe arm 50 are leg portions 28 formed by an elongated slot 65 whichterminates in proximity of the rectangular opening 51. Slidably mountedin the elongated slot 65 is a carrier member 66 whose side portions areslotted as at 67 for receiving the leg portion 20 of the arm 50.

Formed on the centerline of carrier member 66 is a pair of bores 68 and69, the bore 68 extending from the lower surface and terminating shortof the upper surface thereof. An upright swivel 55 which is rotatablymounted in the opening 69 is provided with a split eyelet 56 whose armportions 57 are in overlapping relation and spaced as at 58 to permit afishing line 59 to be slid therebetween into the center opening of theeyelet 56.

The opening 68 in the lower surface of the carrier member 66 receives apin 70 that supports a cam follower 71. The latter is slidablypositioned in a continuous slotted portion formed in the cam plate 13.The slotted portion consists of a pair of concentric and partiallycircular slots 72 and 73 that are connected together whereby uponrotation of the arm 50 the cam follower 71 will slide along the outer orlarger circular slot 72 and then slide into and around the smallercircular slot 73 after which the cam follower 71 will return to andslide along the larger circular slot 72 as shown by FIG. 5. At the sametime the carrier 66 is oscillating back and forth in the slot 65 as thearm 50 rotates with the hub 25.

It is readily noted that I have provided a level wind attachment 10 forfishing reels that may be readily mounted on fishing reels of varioussizes easily and quickly. All that need be done is provide a threadedbore in each of the end casings 42 and place the cross membertherebetween. If the latter is too long, it may be readily cut andshortened; or if too short, spacer members may be placed at the endsthereof. The screws 44 are then threaded into the bores in the endcasings 42 and received in the bores 41 of the crossmembers 40 to securethe attachment 10 to the reel 43 and permit the attachment 10 to swingin and out of operating position as shown by FIG. 1. With the attachment10 in the operating position as shown by the solid lines, the screw 48is adjusted against the end casing 42 so that the friction wheel 34engages the flange of the spool 46 to allow for the proper amount offriction to cause the friction wheel 34 to rotate in unison with thespool 46. Normally the lock bolt 78 will be received and seated in thearcuate slot 80 to retain the friction wheel 34 into engagement with thespool 46. The diameter of the circle circumscribed by the arm will beexactly equal to the distance between the flanges 45 of the spool 46.The fishing line 59 is then inserted in the slot 58 to be received bythe eyelet 56. Now when the handle 76 is rotated to wind the fishingline 59 on the spool 46, the friction wheel 34 will rotate with theflanges 45 causing the worm gear 37 and gear 20 to rotate which in turnwill rotate the arm 50 in a continuous circle. As the line 59 is beingwound on the spool 46 it is being carried by the eyelet 56 on therotating arm 50 and is consequently moving from side to side of thespool 46 and causing the fishing line 59 to be placed on the spool 46.For every two revolutions of the eyelet 56, the cam follower 71 willslide along the slot of the larger circle 72 causing the fishing line 59to be laid on the spool 46 in a row extending from one flange 45 of thespool 46 to the other flange. Then when the cam follower 71 enters thesmaller circle 73, another row of fishing line 59 is laid in a row equalin length to be diameter of the circle 73 that extends only along themidportion of the spool 46. This action of the cam follower 71 slidingalong the two circles or arcuate slotted portions 72 and 73 prevents thefishing line 59 from building up at a higher rate in proximity of theflanges 45 of the spool 46 so that the fishing line 59 will be wound onthe spool 46 in even and flat rows.

There are occasions as when casting that it is desirous to remove thefishing line 59 from the attachment I0 and position the latter so as notto interfere with the casting operation. In the use of my attachment 10,all that need be done is to slip the fishing line 59 through the slot 58to remove the fishing line 59 from the eyelet 56. Then the attachment I0is pivoted on the screwbolts 44 downwardly to the dotted line positionas shown by FIG. 1 to permit a person to cast the fishing line 59 if itis his desire to cast free of the attachment 10. However, the attachmentl0 permits casting with the line threaded through the eyelet 56. In thisinstance, all he need do is pivot the attachment 10 a slight distancewhich removes the friction wheel 34 out of engagement with the flanges45 of the spool 46. As soon as the person wishes to wind the fishingline 59 back on the spool 46, he swings the attachment I0 back up to itssolid line position wherein the friction wheel 34 engages the flanges45. He then slides the line 59in the slot 58 between the eyelet arms 57and begins to actuate the handle 60 to wind the fishing line 59 on thespool 46.

It has been noted that when using fishing line for large fish on mylevel wind attachment 10, there results a slight buildup of fishing line59 at the flanges 45 of the spool 46 when winding the fishing line 59 onthe spool. To avoid this, a third smaller partially circular concentricslot 74 is formed in the cam plate 113, the slot 74 being connected byan arcuate slot 75 to one end of the largest circular slot 72 as shownby FIG. 8. In this alternate construction of my level wind device as thearm 50 rotates, the cam follower 71 will slide along the outer slot 72for approximately one revolution then around the smaller slot 73 duringa second revolution of the arm 50; then around the smallest slot 74during a third revolution after which the follower 71 will slide alongthe arcuate slot 75 back to the largest circular slot 72. Consequentlyin three revolutions of the arm 50, the fishing line 59 will be laid inthree consecutive and overlying rows on the spool 46 wherein the firstrow will extend along the distance between the flanges 45 which is equalto the diameter of the circular slot 72, the second and third rows willextend along the midportion of the spool 46 for a distance equal to thediameters of the circular slots 73 and 74 respectively. The buildup offishing line 59 at the flanges 45 caused by the larger circular slot 72is evened or flattened out by the deposit of fishing line 59 at themidportions by the smaller concentric circular slots 73 and 74.

Another preferred embodiment of my cam plate is illustrated by FIG. 9wherein the track system tends to avoid the building up of the fishingline 59 at the ends of the spool 46. A cam plate is provided with aninner approximately circular slot 81 concentrically positioned thereon.lts end portions 84, 84 are connected to an enlarged oval shaped slot 82having an approximately straight-lined slot 83 extending across thefront portion of the cam plate 80. Upon use of the cam plate 81 on mylevel wind attachment 10, the fishing line 59 will tend to build up onthe ends of the spool 46 as the cam follower 71 travels along the outerslot 82. As the cam follower 71 slides along the slot portions 84 andaround the inner circular slot 81, the fishing line 59 will be laidalong the center portion of the spool 46 so that upon the completion oftwo revolutions of the follower 71. the fishing line 59 will lie in afiat plane on the spool 46.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

l. A level wind guide attachment for fishing reels having a flangedspool rotatably mounted between end casings comprising a housing, meansmounted on said housing adapted to secure said attachment to a fishingreel transversely of said spool, track means mounted on said housing,gear means, pivot means rotatably mounting said gear means in saidhousing, a second gear in mesh engagement with said gear means, a shaftsecured to said second gear and extending outwardly of said housing,friction wheel means mounted on the free end portion of said shaftadapted to engage a flange of said spool of said fishing reel wherebyupon rotation of said spool when winding fishing line on said spool,said gear is rotated in unison therewith, an elongated arm, meanssecuring said elongated arm at one end to said pivot means, carriermeans slidably mounted on said elongated arm, a track follower pivotedlymounted on said carrier means and engaging said track means and fishingline guide means rotatably mounted on said carrier means for receivingand guiding said fishing line in a substantially flat plane on saidspool as said elongated arm is rotated in the winding of said fishingline on said spool, and as said carrier means oscillates on saidhousing.

2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said track means fonnsubstantially concentric circles having substantially spiral portionsconnecting said circles whereby said cam follower slides from one circleto the other during consecutive rotations of said elongated arm.

3. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said friction wheel beingslidably mounted on said shaft, means limiting the sliding movement ofsaid friction wheel and spring means yieldingly urging said frictionwheel in the direction of said free end portion of said shaft.

4. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said means mounted onsaid housing adapted to secure said attachment to a fishing reelcomprises a cross member secured to said housing for pivotally mountingsaid attachment between said end casings of said reel and tab meansmounted on said housing and adapted to extend beyond one of said endcasings, said tab means having a slotted portion for receiving a lockbolt when said attachment has been pivoted into operative position towind said fishing line on said spool.

5. The structure as recited by claim 2 wherein said track meanscomprises a cover plate enclosing said gear means in said housing, saidcover plate having an opening receiving said elongated ann securingmeans and an O-ring positioned adjacent said opening to seal saidhousing.

6. The structure as recited by claim 4 wherein said rotatable fishingline guide means comprises a pair of arcuate arm portions terminating inoverlapping and spaced relation whereby said fishing line guide may bethreaded through the space between said arcuate arm portions.

7. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said attachment securingmeans comprise a crossmember having bores at each end thereof and boltmeans extending through said housing and received by said bores wherebysaid attachment may be pivoted to remove said friction wheel out ofengagement with said spool and said attachment becoming inoperative.

8. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said track means comprisegrooves forming an inner circle, an outer substantially oval shapedportion having a substantially straight portion along one side andarcuate portions at the other side joining said circle whereby said camfollower slides from said oval shaped portion to said inner circleduring consecutive rotations of said elongated arm.

1. A level wind guide attachment for fishing reels having a flangedspool rotatably mounted between end casings comprising a housing, meansmounted on said housing adapted to secure said attachment to a fishingreel transversely of said spool, track means mounted on said housing,gear means, pivot means rotatably mounting said gear means in saidhousing, a second gear in mesh engagement with said gear means, a shaftsecured to said second gear and extending outwardly of said housing,friction wheel means mounted on the free end portion of said shaftadapted to engage a flange of said spool of said fishing reel wherebyupon rotation of said spool when winding fishing line on said spool,said gear is rotated in unison therewith, an elongated arm, meanssecuring said elongated arm at one end to said pivot means, carriermeans slidably mounted on said elongated arm, a track follower pivotedlymounted on said carrier means and engaging said track means and fishingline guide means rotatably mounted on said carrier means for receivingand guiding said fishing line in a substantially flat plane on saidspool as said elongated arm is rotated in the winding of said fishingline on said spool, and as said carrier means oscillates on saidhousing.
 2. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said track meansform substantially concentric circles having substantially spiralportions connecting said circles whereby said cam follower slides fromone circle to the other during consecutive rotations of said elongatedarm.
 3. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said friction wheelbeing slidably mounted on said shaft, means limiting the slidingmovement of said friction wheel and spring means yieldingly urging saidfriction wheel in the direction of said free end portion of said shaft.4. The structure as recited by claim 1 wherein said means mounted onsaid housing adapted to secure said attachment to a fishing reelcomprises a cross member secured to said housing for pivotally mountingsaid attachment between said end casings of said reel and tab meansmounted on said housing and adapted to extend beyond one of said endcasings, said tab means having a slotted portion for receiving a lockbolt when said attachment has been pivoted into operative position towind said fishing line on said spool.
 5. The structure as recited byclaim 2 wherein said track means comprises a cover plate enclosing saidgear means in said housing, said cover plate having an opening receivingsaid elongated arm securing means and an O-ring positioned adjacent saidopening to seal said housing.
 6. The structure as recited by claim 4wherein said rotatable fishing line guide means comprises a pair ofarcuate arm portions terminating in overlapping and spaced relationwhereby said fishing line guide may be threaded through the spacebetween said arcuate arm portions.
 7. The structure as recited by claim1 wherein said attachment securing means comprise a crossmember havingbores at each end thereof and bolt means extending through said housingand received by said bores whereby said attachment may be pivoted toremove said friction wheel out of engagement with said spool and saidattachment becoming inoperative.
 8. The structure as recited by claim 1wherein said track means comprise grooves forming an inner circle, anouter substantially oval shaped portion having a substantially straightportion along one side and arcuate portions at the other side joiningsaid circle whereby said cam follower slides from said oval shapedportion to said inner circle during consecutive rotations of saidelongated arm.